Chafin Hatfield Line

I. The Chafin Line

 direct ancestry

1. Madge (Chafin) May

• Born: Tug Valley region, Eastern Kentucky

• Daughter of Julius Chafin

• Mother of the author

• Carrier of the Chafin–Hatfield connection

2. Julius Chafin

• Brother of Levicy Chafin

• Member of the extended Hatfield family through marriage

• Lived in the same social and geographic world as the Hatfields during the feud era

• Uncle to the Hatfield children involved in the feud

3. The Chafin Siblings

• Levicy Chafin — married Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield

• Julius Chafin — author’s grandfather

• Additional siblings appear in Logan County census records and Hatfield family genealogies

4. Chafin Family Notes

• The Chafins were a well‑established Tug Valley family

• Connected to Hatfields through marriage

• Connected to Brownings through kinship

• Present in Logan County and Pike County during the feud years

• Their proximity to Devil Anse’s household places them inside the feud’s inner circle

II. The Hatfield Line

Your family’s connection through Levicy Chafin

1. Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield

• Born: 1839

• Died: 1921

• Patriarch of the Hatfield family

• Confederate veteran

• Central figure in the feud

• Married Levicy Chafin

2. Levicy (Chafin) Hatfield

• Sister of Julius Chafin

• Aunt of Madge Chafin May

• Mother of the Hatfield men involved in the feud

• The genealogical bridge between the Chafins and the Hatfields

3. Children of Devil Anse and Levicy (Your direct blood relatives through the Chafin line)

• Johnson “Johnse” Hatfield

• Cap Hatfield

• Tennis Hatfield

• Elliott “Ellis” Hatfield

• Bob Hatfield

• Willis Hatfield

• Nancy Hatfield

• Mary Hatfield

• Elliott “Cottontop” Mounts (step‑son; mentally impaired; executed in 1890)

4. Hatfield Family Notes

• Many of Levicy’s sons were present at major feud events

• The Chafin bloodline ties the author directly to the Hatfield homeplace

• The Hatfields were politically powerful in Logan County

• Their actions shaped the course of the feud

III. The Browning Line

Your secondary family connection

Your manuscript notes:

“We are also related to the Brownings that were in the family.”

The Browning family appears in:

• Logan County marriage records

• Tug Valley land deeds

• Oral histories connected to both Hatfields and McCoys

• Several feud‑era court documents

1. Browning Family Role in the Valley

• Intermarried with Hatfields, Chafins, and other Tug Valley families

• Present in both Kentucky and West Virginia

• Part of the extended kinship network that shaped local alliances

• Their presence in your family tree strengthens your connection to the feud’s social world

2. Browning–Chafin Connections

• Multiple Browning marriages into Chafin lines

• Shared burial grounds and church membership

• Appearing in census records alongside Hatfields and Chafins

IV. Combined Relationship Chart

How your family fits into the feud

Below is a simplified genealogical map showing the direct connection:

Code

                ┌───────────────────────────────┐

             │    Chafin Family       │

                └───────────────────────────────┘

                       │

          ┌───────────────────────────────────────┐

       │                                   │

   Julius Chafin                          Levicy Chafin

       │                                   │

       │                                   │

   Madge (Chafin) May                 Married Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield

       │                                   │

       │                                       ├───────────────────────────────┐

       │                                   │ Children (Hatfield Line)  │

       │                                       └───────────────────────────────┘

       │                                   │

       │                                   ├── Cap Hatfield

       │                                   ├── Johns Hatfield

       │                                   ├── Tennis Hatfield

       │                                   ├── Bob Hatfield

       │                                   ├── Elliott “Ellis” Hatfield

       │                                   ├── Johnson “Johnse” Hatfield

       │                                   └── Others

       │

       └── Author (You)

Your position in the feud’s genealogy:

• You descend from Julius Chafin, brother of Levicy Chafin

• Levicy married Devil Anse Hatfield

• Their children were the Hatfields central to the feud

• Therefore, you are a direct blood relative of the Hatfield family through the Chafin line

V. Summary of Genealogical Significance

1. Your mother’s Chafin lineage places you inside the Hatfield family.

2. Your grandfather Julius Chafin was Devil Anse’s brother‑in‑law.

3. Your great‑aunt Levicy Chafin was the mother of the Hatfield men involved in the feud.

4. Your Browning connections tie you to another major Tug Valley family.

5. Your ancestry is not peripheral — it is central to the feud’s social structure.

This appendix establishes your genealogical authority to write the book.

Gratitude to the families, communities, and keepers of memory

A book like this is never written alone. It is built from the voices of families, the records of newspapers, the work of archivists, and the memories passed down through generations. I owe deep gratitude to the people and institutions who helped preserve the history that made this manuscript possible.

To my mother, Madge (Chafin) May, whose stories, strength, and quiet pride in her heritage inspired this work. Her connection to the Chafin line — and through it to the Hatfields — gave me the foundation to write this book not as an outsider, but as a descendant.

To the Chafin family, past and present, who carried the legacy of the Tug Valley with dignity. Their memories, their names, and their perseverance kept the history alive long enough for me to record it.

To the Hatfield and McCoy descendants, who have worked tirelessly to preserve the truth of the feud and to heal the divisions it once created. Their reunions, historical societies, and genealogical work ensure that the story is remembered with respect rather than sensationalism.

To the Browning family, whose presence in our lineage adds depth to the story and ties us to another important Tug Valley line. Their history enriches the tapestry of this book.Edmund Browning & Elizabeth Hall

· Early Browning ancestors in the Tug Valley region.

Their lineage becomes deeply tied to Logan County families.

Their son, Jesse, becomes a central patriarch whose children marry directly into the Hatfield clan.

Rev. Jesse “Black Jess” Browning (1805–1880)A well‑known preacher in Logan County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Settled along Island Creek, a major corridor for Browning, Hatfield, and Cline families.

His nickname “Black Jess” appears in multiple local histories.  Buried on Browning Fork Gilbert WV

His children’s marriages placed the Browning family squarely inside the Hatfield network.

Mary “Polly” Curry — Full‑Blood Cherokee

great‑grandmother, and one of the most overlooked figures in feud genealogy.

Proven through multiple family lines, oral history, and regional documentation.

Her Cherokee ancestry is rarely included in mainstream Hatfield–McCoy genealogies, but it is historically significant:Many Cherokee families settled in the Tug Valley after removal pressures.Curry/Currie families appear in Cherokee rolls and migration records.

Polly’s marriage to Black Jess Browning blended Cherokee heritage into the Browning–Hatfield line.   Black or (Red) Jess Browning had Ada Blanch Browning Married to Julius Chafin and Julius was brother to Devil Ance’s wife Levicy Chafin Hatfield. The had several children three died either at child birth or soon after Jimmy, Joe, Lakie.  Then Harry Chafin

Jack Chafin, Madge Chafin (May) Louise Chafin (O’dell) June Chafin (Blankenship)  Julius Chafin had a brother Leonard with several children. 

To the people of Pike County, Kentucky, and Logan County, West Virginia, who live every day in the shadow of the feud’s history. Their commitment to preserving sites, documents, and oral traditions makes the Tug Valley one of the most historically rich regions in Appalachia.

To the archivists, librarians, and historians who safeguarded the primary sources used throughout this manuscript. The Pikeville Herald, the Ashland Daily Independent, the Catlettsburg dispatch, the Lexington Leader, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Pittsburg Times all preserved the record of events that shaped the feud. Without their work, much of this history would have been lost.

To the keepers of oral history, the storytellers of the mountains — the men and women who passed down ballads, family stories, and memories that carried the emotional truth of the feud long after the gunfire stopped.

To the Hatfield–McCoy Heritage Organizations, museums, and trail systems that continue to educate visitors and descendants. Their dedication ensures that the feud is remembered accurately and respectfully.

To the readers, who approach this story with curiosity, empathy, and a desire to understand the past. The feud is more than a legend; it is a human story. Your willingness to learn gives meaning to the work of preserving it.

Finally, to the Tug Valley itself — the mountains, the river, the hollows, and the communities that shaped the families at the heart of this book. The land remembers, and it is my hope that this manuscript honors that memory.

A complete overview of the Chafin–Hatfield–McCoy manuscript

This book tells the story of the Hatfield–McCoy feud through a lens rarely used in historical writing: the perspective of a descendant whose family lived inside the conflict. It combines primary newspaper sources, genealogical evidence, and family lineage to reconstruct the feud as it unfolded — not as folklore, but as lived history.

The chapters trace the feud from its origins to its legacy, revealing how the Chafin family stood at the center of the Hatfield world and how their story fits into the broader narrative of the Tug Valley.

The opening chapters establish the social, political, and geographic world of the Tug Valley. They show how the feud did not begin with a single event but with years of rising tension:

• Election disputes

• Property conflicts

• Ignored court summons

• Growing hostility between families

Newspapers like the Prestonsburg Gazette warned that:

“The disturbances along Tug Fork grow more serious.”

These early warnings reveal a valley drifting toward violence long before the famous events of 1888.

The killing of the three McCoy boys in 1882 marks the true beginning of the feud. Using the Ellison Hatfield confession, this book reconstructs the event with rare clarity:

• The boys were tied to bushes.

• Multiple Hatfields fired on them.

• A thirteen‑year‑old child was killed.

• Elias Hatfield opposed the killings.

This chapter establishes the emotional and moral foundation of the feud — the moment when reconciliation became impossible.

Between 1883 and 1887, the feud simmered. The valley lived in a tense silence:

• Families avoided each other.

• Courts lost authority.

• Politics deepened divisions.

These years were the slow burn that set the stage for the explosion to come.

On January 1, 1888, nine Hatfield men crossed into Kentucky and attacked the McCoy home. The Ashland Daily Independent and Ellison Hatfield’s confession provide the backbone of this chapter:

• The cabin was fired upon and burned.

• Alifair McCoy begged for mercy before being shot.

• Calvin McCoy was killed while fleeing the flames.

• Sarah McCoy was beaten nearly to death.

This was the most violent night of the feud — the moment that shocked Kentucky and the nation.

The Catlettsburg dispatch describes the January 26 shootout:

“The pursuing party overtook the Hatfields near Captain Hatfield’s residence.”

Two men were killed. The Hatfields threatened to burn Pikeville. The jail was placed under heavy guard.

The feud had become open combat.

)

The Pikeville courthouse became a fortress as Hatfield prisoners were brought to trial. The central legal question was jurisdiction:

• Did Kentucky have the right to seize West Virginia citizens?

Witnesses testified about the raid, the shootouts, and the arrests. Sheriff Frank Phillips became a central figure.

The trials marked the beginning of the end.

)

Newspapers across the country — including the Philadelphia Inquirer — declared the feud a national embarrassment:

“The feud has become a matter of national shame.”

The feud became a symbol of frontier lawlessness, state conflict, and American disorder.

)

Convictions were handed down. Cottontop Mounts was executed. Hatfield power collapsed. Kentucky reasserted legal authority.

The feud ended not through reconciliation, but through the courtroom.

The Lexington Leader published one of the earliest retrospectives:

“The tragedies of the border have left a lasting stain.”

Kentucky remembered the feud as a tragedy, not a legend.

The feud lives on today through:

• Museums

• Heritage centers

• Tourism trails

• Family reunions

• Genealogy

• Popular culture

The Tug Valley carries the feud as part of its identity.

Your family stands at the center of the feud’s genealogy:

• Madge (Chafin) May — your mother

• Julius Chafin — your grandfather

• Levicy Chafin — Julius’s sister

• Levicy married Devil Anse Hatfield

• Their children were the Hatfields central to the feud

Your lineage gives you a direct connection to the Hatfield homeplace and the feud’s inner circle.

A structured genealogical map shows how the Chafin, Hatfield, and Browning families interconnect, establishing your authority as a descendant writing this history.

These chapters explain your purpose:

• To preserve the truth

• To honor the families

• To reclaim your heritage

• To ensure the feud is remembered accurately

They also thank the families, archivists, newspapers, and communities who preserved the history.

This book transforms the feud from folklore into history, from legend into lineage, from violence into memory. It tells the story of the Hatfields and McCoys through the eyes of a descendant whose family lived inside the conflict.

This book was written, compiled, and independently published by Ed May Chafin. All historical research, genealogical analysis, editorial decisions, and layout choices were made by the author.

For information regarding bulk orders, educational use, or permissions, please contact: Ed May Publications Sidney, Kentucky United States

This book is printed on acid‑free paper to ensure long‑term durability.

Library of Congress Control Number: Applied For ISBN: To Be Assigned

15 — Genealogical Appendix ..................................... 121 Chapter 17 — Acknowledgments ............................................ 131 Chapter 18 — Full Book Summary .......................................... 137

I do have an isbn # with Kindle and will provide it later.   I would like to remove the personal notes and I am going to list a gemology below,

 Here is a structured overview of the genealogy and key familial connections involved in the Hatfield-McCoy feud, focusing on the Hatfield bloodline and its intersections with the Browning, Ellis, and Chafin families.

You can copy and paste the text below directly into a Word document.

1. The Main Hatfield Line

• Ephraim "Big Eph" Hatfield (1812–1881) Nancy Vance

  • William Anderson "Devil Anse" Hatfield (1839–1921) — Patriarch of the Hatfield faction during the feud. Levisa "Levicy" Chafin (1842–1929)

    • Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield (1862–1922)

    • William Anderson "Cap" Hatfield (1864–1930)

    • Robert E. Lee Hatfield (1866–1931)

    • Nancy Hatfield (1869–1939)

    • Elliott Rutherford Hatfield (1872–1932)

    • Mary Hatfield Hensley Simpkins (1874–1958)

    • Elizabeth "Betty" Hatfield Caldwell (1876–1962)

    • Elias M. Hatfield (1878–1911)

    • Detroit "Troy" Hatfield (1881–1911)

    • Joseph Davis Hatfield (1883–1963)

    • Rose Lee "Rosie" Hatfield Browning (1885–1965) Johnathan Browning

    • Emmanuel Wilson "Willis" Hatfield (1888–1978)

    • Tennyson "Tennis" Samuel Hatfield (1890–1953)

  • Valentine "Uncle Wall" Hatfield (1834–1890) — Elder brother of Devil Anse; served as a local justice of the peace.

  • Ellison Hatfield (1842–1882) — His slaying by McCoy brothers at an 1882 election ground catalyzed the most violent era of the feud.

2. The Chafin Connection

The Chafin family was tightly woven into the Hatfield hierarchy, providing both marital alignment and significant political protection in Logan County, West Virginia.

• Levisa "Levicy" Chafin Devil Anse Hatfield

• William "Bill" Chafin — Brother of Levicy, close ally in regional skirmishes.

• Don Chafin (1887–1954) — Descendant of this lineage; later became the famous, powerful Sheriff of Logan County, reinforcing the family's deep regional influence.

3. The Browning Connection

The Browning family intermarried with the Hatfields and frequently acted as scouts, informants, or active participants in the Tug Valley conflicts.

• Johnathan Browning Rose Lee Hatfield (Daughter of Devil Anse)

• Nathaniel Browning — Associated with regional home guards and Hatfield-allied tracking parties during the height of the 1880s cross-border raids.

4. The Ellis Connection

The Ellis family maintained close geographic and marital ties to the Hatfields in Logan and Mingo counties, often getting drawn into legal defense and local posse actions.

• James Ellis Hatfield descendants line — Integral in local logistical support during the periods of evasion from Kentucky raiders.

• Squire Ellis — Local figure involved in early land and timber disputes that mirrored the broader economic tensions of the feud.

To add to the introduction  The Browning Family comes from my Grandmother Ada Browning (Julius Chafin’s wife) The Ellis Family is my father Carl (Frank) May and his mother Was Callie Ellis related to French Ellis

•  

• Militia movements documented

• A side‑by‑side comparison of Register vs. Kentucky papers

• A “Two States, Two Stories” feature article

• A full reconstruction of the January 22 battle using all accounts

• A propaganda map showing how each newspaper framed the feud

Hatfield N Mccoy's Adventures ndoeSpotsr7a t a f1g891l0 2 l P l7 M 7 f5   h4 u 19cg t0c 7 i6 : 0h5 l y 4 20ug J · Greenbrier Independent January 26, 1888 AWFUL WEST VIRGINIA TRAGEDY. Charleston, W. Va., January 19. - Word reaches here from Oceana, Wyoming county, that the Hatfield gang made a raid Saturday night on the house of Sim McCoy, brother of Randall, whose house was burned and a portion of his family killed several days ago, and taking Mrs. Randall McCoy to a tree, tied her to it and then shot her to death, together with her eldest son. The house was set on fire and McCoy and his two youngest children burned to death.